Assessments for behavioral inhibition in pet dogs that can rapidly detect age-related cognitive deficits (ARCD) using inexpensive and accessible materials may aid in diagnosing canine dementia and may facilitate translational research on Alzheimer’s disease in humans. In this study, we designed and deployed a spatial serial reversal learning test in which 80 pet dogs were required to learn which of two identical boxes contained a hidden food treat. Each time the dog chose the correct box in three consecutive trials the procedure was repeated using the other box. All dogs that completed shaping (n = 62) also completed the 30-minute assessment. Middle-aged dogs chose the correct box more often than younger and older dogs. This cognitive decline was detectable with a stand-alone score for perseveration that can be easily measured and interpreted by clinicians and dog owners. Age did not predict how frequently the dog learned the serially-reversing reward contingency but older and younger dogs displayed longer streaks of perseverative errors. Thus, ARCD in dogs may be better characterized by bouts of severe cognitive dysfunction rather than temporally-consistent cognitive deficits. We suggest that future ARCD assessments for pet dogs should include measurements for intra-individual variability.

可以使用廉价且易获得的材料评估宠物狗的行为抑制能力，以快速检测出与年龄相关的认知缺陷（ARCD），这可能有助于诊断犬痴呆症，并可能促进人类阿尔茨海默氏病的转化研究。在这项研究中，我们设计并部署了一个空间序列逆向学习测试，其中需要80只宠物狗来学习两个相同盒子中的哪个盒子包含一个隐藏的食物。狗在三个连续的试验中每次选择正确的盒子时，都使用另一个盒子重复该过程。所有完成塑形的狗（n = 62）也完成了30分钟的评估。中年犬比幼犬和老年犬更经常选择正确的盒子。可以通过独立的坚持得分来检测到这种认知下降，临床医生和狗主人可以轻松地测量和解释该得分。年龄无法预测这只狗多久学会一次连续可逆的奖励意外情况，但是年龄较大和较年轻的狗表现出更长的持久性错误条纹。因此，犬的ARCD可能表现为严重的认知功能障碍，而不是时间上一致的认知缺陷。我们建议，将来对宠物狗进行的ARCD评估应包括个体内部变异性的度量。狗的ARCD可能以严重的认知功能障碍为特征，而不是时间上一致的认知缺陷。我们建议，将来对宠物狗进行的ARCD评估应包括个体内部变异性的度量。狗的ARCD可能表现为严重的认知功能障碍，而不是时间上一致的认知缺陷。我们建议，将来对宠物狗进行的ARCD评估应包括个体内部变异性的度量。